Toilet bowl cleaner in cake form containing a polyethyleneglycol distearate

ABSTRACT

Solid cake lavoratory cleansing block compositions comprising polyethylene glycol distearate having a dissolution time of at least 5.5 hours, and optional ingredients which include a gelling natural gum, fragrances, dyes, solid binders, filler material and mixtures thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cake compositions which are useful forthe treatment of the flush water of toilets. More particularly, theinvention is concerned with a long lasting toilet tank dispenser whichmay be formed by casting and is responsive to the flushing of thetoilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In treating toilet flush water with chemicals in order to producedesirable effects such as bowl aesthetics, cleaning, disinfection,deodorization, aerosol reduction, etc., it is desirable that thechemicals be dispensed into the flush water automatically each time thetoilet is flushed. The prior art discloses numerous devices which havebeen designed for this purpose.

Particularly desirable devices are those comprising a solid cakecomposition. In this type of device a measured amount of water entersthe device during one flush cycle and remains in contact with the cakebetween flushes, thereby forming a concentrated solution of thecomposition which is dispensed into the flush water during the nextflush. The advantages of such devices are that the chemical compositioncan be packaged and shipped in more concentrated form than aqueoussolutions of the chemicals. Also, the problems of liquid spillageresulting from breakage of the dispensers during shipment or handling iseliminated.

Prior art surfactant cake compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,308,625, Kitko, issued Jan. 5, 1982 and 4,043,931, Jeffrey et al,issued Aug. 23, 1977. These patents disclose a lavoratory cleansingtablet which is formed with two or more nonionic surfactants whichincludes the use of polyalkoxylated alcohols. U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,363,Wong et al, issued Oct. 16, 1984, discloses a solid cake comprising freefatty alcohol and a buffered alkali earth metal alkyl sulfatesurfactant. U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,434, Choy et al, issued Jan. 12, 1982;and U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,571, Choy, issued July 14, 1981, entitled"Surfactant Cake Compositions"; all of which are incorporated herein byreference, disclose surfactant cake compositions containing dyes andperfumes which are utilized in the present invention. The surfactantsprovide cleaning and sudsing in the toilet bowl and also serve todispense other components of the compositions such as dyes, perfumes,organic resins, etc.

Water-soluble inert salts such as alkali metal chlorides and sulfatesare used in such compositions to act as a "filler" so that thecomposition can be formed into cakes of desirable size without usingexcessive amounts of active ingredients. The predominant ingredients ofthe cake compositions are usually the surfactant, perfume and the fillersalt.

A major problem in this art has been short and/or erratic longevity ofsurfactant cakes because of rapid and uneven dissolution resulting indecreased cake stability and longevity.

It has been found that a solid cake composition which is preferably castand has a long and uniform block life can be provided where thecomposition comprises the combination of a polyethylene glycoldistearate having a specific water solubility and molecular weight rangewith the conventional materials such as fillers, binders, dyes,fragrances, extenders and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid cakecompositions which may be formed by casting and comprises a specifickind of polyethylene glycol distearate, which compositions are suitablefor use for automatically dispensing cleaning agents into the toilet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cast solidcake composition having relatively high melt temperatures and less blocksurface tackiness for improved processing.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide alavoratory block which has a long and uniform block life that eliminatessluggish toilets.

It is a yet still further object of the present invention to provide alavoratory block which resists mounding and major fragmentation.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of the invention are achieved by providing a solidunsupported cake composition which comprises a polyethylene glycoldistearate having a drop dissolution time of at least 5.5 hoursaccording to the Distearate Dissolution Test (see Example I hereinafter)and a molecular weight from about 3,000 to 12,000, perferably about7,000 to 9,000, and optional ingredients selected from the groupsconsisting of fragrances, dyes, binders, filler material and mixturesthereof. Advantageously, the cake composition comprises from about 8% toabout 35% by weight of said polyethylene glycol distearate, perferably,about 12% to 29%. It is known that polyethylene glycol distearate isextremely hydrophilic. Because of the extreme hydrophilic nature of thecompound, it would be expected that the material would be very watersoluble without any prolonged transition from solid to a liquid. It hasbeen surprisingly found that the particular kind of polyethylene glycoldistearate of the invention goes through a hydration stage forming atenacious gel so as to provide the aforementioned extended block liferelative to other formulations containing polyethylene glycol distearateof varying molecular weights.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a long lifecake lavoratory cleaning composition which is preferably cast andcomprises from about 8% to about 35% by weight, preferably about 12% to29% of said polyethylene glycol distearate and a natural gum in anamount of from about 3% to about 35% by weight of composition, andconventional materials, such as fillers, dyes, binders, fragrances, andthe like. Preferably the gum is guar gum.

It is critical in the present invention that the polyethylene glycoldistearate which is utilized in the formulation of the cake compositionhave a drop dissolution time of at least about 5.5 hours according tothe Distearate Dissolution Test. It has been found that not allpolyethylene glycol distearates having a molecular weight of about 3,000to 12,000 posses such a characteristic. Their method of preparationappears to influence their solubility. Preferably, their preparation isaccording to the method of condensing a fatty acid with an alcohol asdescribed by W.B. Satkowski et al in "Polyoxyethylene esters of FattyAcids", Nonionic Surfactants, M. J. Schick Ed. (Dekker, NY 1967) p.142-147, which is herein incorporated by reference. For example, stearicacid having a molecular weight of 284.5 is reacted with a polyethyleneglycol having a molecular weight range between 5500-8500 to form apolyethylene glycol distearate having a molecular weight range of about6033-9033. Such compound having a dissolution time of at least 5.5 hoursis suitable for use in the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, it has been found that by utilizingpolyethylene glycol distearate having a molecular weight from about3,000 to about 12,000 and a dissolution time of at least about 5.5 hoursaccording to the Distearate Dissolution Test, a long life solid cakecomposition can be obtained.

The compositions of the present invention are in the form of solid cakecompositions which comprises:

(A) from about 8% to about 35% by weight, preferably, about 12% to about29% by weight of a polyethylene glycol distearate having a molecularweight from about 3,000 to 12,000, preferably, about 7,000 to about9,000 and dissolution time of at least about 5.5 hours according to theDistearate Dissolution Test, and

(B) conventional materials such as fillers, dyes, binders,disinfectants, fragrances, and the like.

In order to improve the cake characteristics it has been foundadvantageous to utilize in the cake composition a greater portion ofpolyethylene glycol distearate which has a molecular weight betweenabout 7,000 to about 12,000. A greater portion of polyethylene glycoldistearate having a molecular weight between about 3,000 to about 7,000,preferably about 3,000 to about 4,000 in combination with the highermolecular weight polyethylene glycol distearate aids in preventingmounding and further acts as a binder.

It has been further found that natural gums can advantageously beutilized as binders in the present invention. The natural gums which maybe utilized are those which are cold water gelling additives and developa high viscosity and a high gel strength. Included in the gums which maybe utilized are guar, xanthan, tragacanth, carrageenan, karaya, algin,and the like. The most preferable is guar which has been found to be themost effective in retarding block dissolution and to reduce the problemof sluggish toilet behavior.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous to utilize guar gumtogether with sodium chloride as a filler since there is a synergisticviscosity increase of water that is not found with other fillers such ascalcium sulfate. Additionally, there is an increase of the relativeinsolubility properties of the matrix in water.

As a further binding agent the use of solid emollients have been foundto be helpful to prevent the cake of the invention from mounding out.Suitable emollients include glyceryl monostearate, glycerylmonopalmitate, ethylene glycol stearate, propylene glycol monostearate,and the like, most preferably is glyceryl monostearate which provides amatrix to prevent mounding. The emollients may be utilized in amounts ofabout 0 to about 10% by weight, preferably about 5% to about 10%.

It has been found to be advantageous to utilize certain nonionicsurfactants in the cake formulation. Nonionic surfactants that may beincluded are the condensation products of a long chain ethylene oxidemoiety with an aliphatic alcohol preferably a primary or secondaryaliphatic alcohol or alkyl phenol, preferably the primary or secondaryalcohol contains 8 to 20 carbon atoms and the alkyl phenol-based moietyis one wherein the alkyl chain is straight or branched and contains 6 to12 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 9 carbon atoms.

Illustrative nonionic surfactants having the desired characteristics forformulation are available on the market under the tradename of "Neodol"products by Shell Oil Company; "Tergitol" products by Union CarbideCompany; and "Alfol" products by Continental Oil Company. Specificexamples include "Necdol 25-7" (linear C₁₂ -C₁₅ primary alcoholcondensed with 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol); "Neodol45-7" (linear C₁₄ -C₁₅ primary alcohol mixture condensed with 7 moles ofethylene oxide per mole of alcohol); "Tergitol 15-S-7" (random secondaryC₁₁ -C₁₅ alcohol condensed with 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole ofalcohol); and "Alfol 1416-6.5" (primary C₁₄ -C₁₆ alcohol condensed with6.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol).

Such nonionic surfactants act as coupling agents to provide anintegration of the cake components and may be used in the amount ofabout 0 to 30% by weight of the cake formulation.

Also useful to enhance the life of the cake are ethoxylatednonylphenols. The high ethoxylated nonylphenol, that is, those havingover 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol, provides slowdissolution of the cake formulation. Up to about 10% by weight of highethoxylated nonylphenols is preferably utilized together with theethoxylated aliphatic alcohols.

Water-soluble inert salts are used in the present compositions as"fillers" so that the composition can be formed into cakes of desiredsize without using excessive amounts of active ingredients. They areused alone or in combination in amounts up to about 64% by weight.

The inert salts (filler salts) used in the compositions of the presentinvention can be any water-soluble inorganic or organic salt or mixturesof such salts. For purposes of the present invention, "water-soluble"means having a solubility in water of at least 2.0 grams per hundredgrams of water at 20° C. Examples of suitable salts include variousalkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal sulfates, chlorides, borates,bromides, citrates, acetates, lactates, etc.

Specific examples of suitable salts include calcium sulfate, sodiumchloride, potassium sulfate, sodium carbonate, lithium chloride,tripotassium phosphate, sodium borate, potassium bromide, potassiumfluoride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride,sodium citrate, sodium acetate, calcium lactate, magnesium sulfate andsodium fluoride. The preferred salts are the inorganic salts, especiallythe alkali metal sulfates and chlorides. Particularly preferred salts,because of their low cost, are calcium sulfate and sodium chloride. Thesalts are present in the compositions herein at levels of from about 20%to about 64% by weight (preferably from about 25% to about 35%). Mostpreferably, sodium chloride is utilized together with guar gum eitheralone or with other salts since the combination not only provides asynergistic viscosity increase of water and decreases the relativesolubility properties of the matrix in water but also aids to preventmounding.

Calcium sulfate is advantageously utilized alone or together with theother gums or together with sodium chloride because it has a lowsolubility level which is constant over the water temperature rangelikely to exist within toilet tanks.

Various optional materials may be included in the compositions herein.

Dyes may be included at levels of from about 2.5% to 15.0% by weight.Examples of suitable dyes are Alizarine Light Blue B (C.I. 63010), CartaBlue VP (C.I. 24401), Acid Green 2G (C.I. 42085), Astragon Green D (C.I.42040), Supranol Cyanine 7B (C.I. 42675), Maxilon Blue 3RL (C.I. BasicBlue 80), Drimarine Blue Z-RL (C.J. Reactive Blue 18), Alizarine LightBlue H-RL (C.I. Acid Blue 182), FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Green No. 3 andAcid Blue No. 9. Others are disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,310,434 and 4,77,363, which are herewith incorporated byreference.

The cakes of the invention may also contain up to about 15% by weight ofa cationic quaternary ammonium salt.

It is known that the cationic quaternary ammonium salts which include agreater number of short-chain alkyl groups in the structure, inclinetoward better bacteriostatic properties. Specific examples ofbacteriostatic agents that may be used in the compositions of thisinvention include di-isobutyl cresoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride, di-isobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride, myristyl dimethylbenzene ammonium chloride,benzalkonium chloride, cetyl pyridinium chloride, coconut dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride,alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, alkyl diethyl benzyl ammoniumchloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium bromide, di-isobutyl phenoxyethoxy ethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, di-isobutyl phenoxy ethoxyethyl dimethyl alkyl ammonium chloride, methyl-dodecylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, octadecyl dimethylethyl ammonium bromide, cetyl dimethyl ethyl ammonium bromide,octadecenyl-9-dimethyl ethyl ammonium bromide, dioctyl dimethyl ammoniumchloride, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, octadecyl trimethylammonium chloride, octadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, hexadecynyltrimethyl ammonium iodine, octyltrimethyl ammonium fluoride, andmixtures thereof. Other water dispersible salts, such as the acetates,sulfates, nitrates, and phosphates, are effective in place of thehalides, but the chlorides and bromides are preferred.

The cakes may also contain perfumes to impart an acceptable odor to theflushing water. The perfume may be in solid form and is suitably presentin an amount up to 15% by weight. In this connection, it may be notedthat the term "perfume" is intended to refer to any material giving anacceptable odor and thus materials giving a "disinfectant" odor such asessential oils, pine extracts, terpinolenes, ortho phenyl phenol orparadichlorobenzene may be employed. The essential oils and pineextracts also contribute as plasticizers and are functional to a degreein extending block life.

Certain perfume materials may be added which additionally function tocontrol the solubility of anionic sulfate surfactants. Examples of suchperfume materials are isobornyl acetate, myrtenyl acetate and frenchylacetate. Other suitable perfumes or fragrances are disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,396,522 of Callicott et al, which is herein incorporated byreference.

The cake formulation may also contain other binding and/or plasticizingingredients serving to assist in the manufacture thereof, for example,polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight from about 300 to about10,000 in an amount up to about 20% by weight, preferably about 4% toabout 15% by weight of the mixture may be used. The polypropylene glycolreduces the melt viscosity, acts as a demolding agent and also acts toplasticize the block when the composition is prepared by a castingprocess. Other suitable plasticizers such as pine oil fractions,d-limonene, dipentene and the ethylene oxide-propylene oxide blockcopolymers may be utilized.

The blocks of the present invention can be produced by a variety ofprocess, e.g., casting/moulding process, by tablet compression processor by an extrusion process. The casting process is the preferred processof the invention.

The casting process which is well within the skill of those in the artinvolves the melting of the ingredients and then casting the melt intoappropriate shaped moulds and allowing the melt to cool and solidify.The shaped tablets or blocks each suitably having a weight of from 20 to150 grams, preferably from 30 to 70 grams.

The shaped tablets or blocks of the preferred embodiments of theinvention comprise:

from about 8% to about 35% by weight of polyethylene glycol distearatehaving a molecular weight of 3,000-12,000 and a dissolution time of atleast 5.5 hours according to the Distearate Dissolution Test;

up to about 10% by weight of glyceryl monostearate;

up to about 30% by weight of an ethoxylated C₈ -C₂₀ aliphatic alcohol;

up to about 10% by weight of ethoxylated nonylphenol;

from about 4% to about 15% by weight of plasticizer;

up to about 35% by weight of guar gum;

up to about 32% by weight of sodium chloride;

up to about 32% by weight of calcium sulfate, and

up to about 15% of disinfecting agents, coloring and/or fragrances.

In order that the invention may be better understood the followingexamples are given by way of illustration only. In the examples, allparts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated.

The following examples are for compositions suited for forming shapedbodies of blocks by a casting/moulding operation.

EXAMPLE I Distearate Dissolution Test

To determine the dissolution rate of polyethylene glycol distearate inwater the test is performed as follows:

A sample of the polyethylene glycol distearate is placed into a beakerand heated so as to form a melt. Using a 7.5 ml capacity polyethylenetransfer pipet, one drop of the melt is placed in the center of a petridish. The drop is allowed to fully solidify for ten minutes, then 75 mlof deionized water is added to the dish. The dish is monitored todetermine the time required for the drop of surfactant to totallydissolve.

A dissolution time of at least about 5.5 hours indicates that thepolyethylene glycol distearate with the desired molecular weight issuitable for use in formulating the composition of the invention.

EXAMPLE II A. Procedure for the Selection of Polyethylene Glycol 6000Distearate (PEG 6000DS)

To determine the dissolution rate of polyethylene glycol disterate inwater the test is performed as follows:

1. An aliquot of PEG 6000DS is placed in a beaker and melted.

2. Using a 7.5 ml polyethylene transfer pipet, a drop of the melt istransferred to a microscope glass slide, the weight of PEG 6000DS addedbeing 0.02+ or --0.001 g using an analytical balance. The melt isallowed to solidify for ten minutes.

3. The glass slide is carefully placed in a 1000 ml glass beakercontaining 800 cc deionized water which is immersed in a 38° C. waterbath.

4. The beaker is monitored to determine the time necessary for the dropof PEG 6000DS to totally dissolve. A dissolution time of at least 5.5hours indicated that the polyethylene glycol distearate was suitable foruse in formulating the composition of the invention.

B. Preparation of Cake Composition

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol 6000 distearate from                                                              21.0%                                                 part A                                                                        Ethoxylated C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 Linear, Primary                                                        29.5%                                                 Alcohol with 7EO                                                              Ethoxylated Nonylphenol with 100 EO                                                                   5.5%                                                  Ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block                                                                  3.5%                                                  copolymer (8500 molec. wt., 80% EO)                                           Acid Blue #9 dye        5.5%                                                  Dipentene               8.0%                                                  Ortho-phenyl phenol     1.0%                                                  Guar gum                5.5%                                                  Sodium chloride         20.5%                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Into a first mixture vessel four-fifths of the ethoxylated C₁₂ -C₁₅linear primary alcohol is added and slowly heated with stirring. Thepolyethylene glycol 6000 distearate, ethoxylated nonylphenol andethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer are added and the mixtureis heated with stirring to 71° C. to form a clear melt.

In a separate vessel the remaining one-fifth of the ethoxylated linearprimary alcohol there is added with stirring the dye, the dipentene andthe ortho-phenyl phenol. The mixture is then added to the first mixingvessel followed by the guar gum and the sodium chloride. The mixture iscooled to 57° C. and poured into molds. After cooling to 5° C., theblocks are removed from the mold.

EXAMPLE III

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped lavoratory cakecomposition is prepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol 6000 distearate                                                                   9.0%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate   5.5%                                                  Ethoxylated C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 Linear, Primary                                                        20.0%                                                 Alcohol with 7 EO                                                             Ethoxylated Ceto Stearyl Alcohol with                                                                 17.5%                                                 50 EO                                                                         Acid Blue #9 dye        5.5%                                                  Terpinolene             8.0%                                                  Ortho-phenyl phenol     1.0%                                                  Guar gum                9.5%                                                  Sodium chloride         24.0%                                                 ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE IV

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                20.0%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate - acid stable                                                                  10.0%                                                  Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        20.0%                                                  (Neodol 45-7)                                                                 Guar gum               9.0%                                                   Sodium chloride        26.0%                                                  Polypropylene glycol (PPGD1000)                                                                      5.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     1.0%                                                   Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The composition had a melt viscosity of 2000 cps at 49° C. and a setpoint at 46° C. The shaped tablet had an in-tank life of more than 30days and showed only slight mounding.

EXAMPLE V

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                20.0%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate - acid stable                                                                  10.0%                                                  Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        21.0%                                                  (Neodol 45-7)                                                                 Guar gum               6.0%                                                   Sodium chloride        26.0%                                                  Polypropylene glycol (PPGD1000)                                                                      6.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     1.0%                                                   Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Terpinolene            6.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The composition had a melt viscosity of 1120 cps at 51° C. and a setpoint at 46° C. The shaped tablet had an in-tank life of 20-40 days in 6different toilets and mounded out after 30 days.

EXAMPLE VI

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                16.5%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate - acid stable                                                                  5.5%                                                   Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        25.0%                                                  (Neodol 45-7)                                                                 Guar gum               6.0%                                                   Sodium chloride        32.0%                                                  Polypropylene glycol (PPGD1000)                                                                      5.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     1.0%                                                   Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The shaped composition had an in-tank life of about 30 days and showedonly slight flattening.

EXAMPLE VII

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                12.5%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate - acid stable                                                                  5.5%                                                   Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        23.0%                                                  (Neodol 45-7)                                                                 Ethoxylated nonylphenol (NP100)                                                                      4.0%                                                   Guar gum               8.0%                                                   Sodium chloride        32.0%                                                  Polypropylene glycol (PPGD1000)                                                                      5.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     1.0%                                                   Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The shaped composition had an in-tank life of about 25-30 days in 6different toilets and showed only slight mounding.

EXAMPLE VIII

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                16.5%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate  5.5%                                                   Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        23.0%                                                  (Neodol 45-7)                                                                 Calcium sulfate        32.0%                                                  Guar gum               8.0%                                                   Polypropylene glycol (PPGD1000)                                                                      5.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     1.0%                                                   Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The shaped tablet mounded out after 30 days in-tank.

In lieu of guar gum, an equal amount of any one of the aforementionednatural gums may be utilized.

EXAMPLE IX

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                               30.0%                                                   Glyceryl monostearate 20.0%                                                   Ethoxylated ceto stearyl alcohol                                                                    20.0%                                                   with 50 EO                                                                    Acid blue dye no. 9   4.0%                                                    Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                    1.0%                                                    Calcium sulfate       25.0%                                                   The resulting block had the following characteristics:                        Demolding             Drop Out                                                Block surface         Dry                                                     Specific gravity      1.11                                                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE X

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                20.0%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate  15.0%                                                  Ethoxylated ceto stearyl alcohol                                                                     20.0%                                                  with 50 EO                                                                    Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        5.0%                                                   (Neodol 25-7)                                                                 Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     .9%                                                    Polypropylene glycol 425                                                                             10.0 %                                                 Calcium sulfate        20.1%                                                  Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The resulting block had the following characteristics:

    ______________________________________                                        Demolding           Light Tap                                                 Block surface       Dry                                                       In-tank life (days) 30                                                        Mounding            slight mounding                                           ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE XI

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                20.0%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate  10.0%                                                  Ethoxylated ceto stearyl alcohol                                                                     20.0%                                                  with 50 EO                                                                    Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        5.0%                                                   (Neodol 25-7)                                                                 Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     .9%                                                    Polypropylene glycol 425                                                                             10.0%                                                  Calcium sulfate        25.1%                                                  Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The resulting block had the following characteristics:

    ______________________________________                                        Demolding           Drop Out                                                  Block surface       Dry                                                       Specific gravity    1.19                                                      Mounding            slight mounding                                           ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE XII

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                20.0%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate  12.0%                                                  Ethoxylated ceto stearyl alcohol                                                                     20.0%                                                  with 50 EO                                                                    Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        6.0%                                                   (Neodol 25-7)                                                                 Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     .9%                                                    Polypropylene glycol 425                                                                             9.0%                                                   Calcium sulfate        23.1%                                                  Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The resulting block had the following characteristics:

    ______________________________________                                        Demolding             Drop Out                                                Block surface         Dry                                                     Specific gravity      1.21                                                    In-tank life (days)   27                                                      Mounding              none                                                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE XIII

Following the procedure of Example II, a shaped cake composition isprepared with the following ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                        Polyethylene glycol (6000) distearate                                                                22.5%                                                  Glyceryl monostearate  10.0%                                                  Ethoxylated ceto stearyl alcohol                                                                     17.5%                                                  with 50 EO                                                                    Ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol                                                                        5.0%                                                   (Neodol 25-7)                                                                 Acid blue dye no. 9    4.0%                                                   Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                                                     .5%                                                    Polypropylene glycol 425                                                                             10.0%                                                  Calcium sulfate        25.5%                                                  Terpinolene            5.0%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The resulting block had the following characteristics:

    ______________________________________                                        Demolding          Light Tap                                                  Block surface      Dry                                                        Specific gravity   1.24                                                       In-tank life (days)                                                                              8 toilets, 20-26 days                                      Mounding           none                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE XIV PROCEDURE FOR PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE MOUNDING ANDCOUPLING PROPERTIES OF A TOILET BLOCK

To determine the potential for a block to (1) mound or spread out fromits original shape; and (2) remain an intergrated unit once the blockhas been immersed in water, a test is conducted as follows:

1. Two 2000 ml glass beakers are filled with tap water. One is placed ina refrigerator at about 5° C. for at least four hours while the otherbeaker remains at ambient temperature.

2. One block from the sample lot is placed in each beaker. The blocksremain immersed in water overnight or about sixteen hours.

3. The blocks are then observed after the immersion period. The ambienttemperature sample provides an indication of the degree of spreading orenlarging of the block base that may occur during immersion within atoilet tank. The 5° C. sample provides an indication of the integrationof the block components or tendency to dissolve in unison.

The principals, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of thepresent invention have been described in the foregoing specification.The invention which is intended to be protected herein, however, is notto be construed as limited to particular forms disclosed, since theseare to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variationsand changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A lavoratory cleansing block composition consistingessentially of:(a) from about 8% to about 35% by weight of compositionof polyethylene glycol distearate having a molecular weight from about3,000 to about 12,000 and a dissolution time of at least about 5.5 hoursaccording to the Distearate Dissolution Test; and the remaindercomprising (b) up to about 10% by weight of composition of glycerylmonostearate; (c) up to about 30% by weight of composition ofethoxylated aliphatic (C₈ -C₂₀) alcohol; (d) up to about 10% by weightof composition of ethoxylated nonylphenol; (e) from about 4% to about15% by weight of composition of plasticizer; (f) 3 to about 35% byweight of composition of guar gum; (g) up to about 32% by weight ofcomposition of sodium chloride; (h) 0 to about 32% by weight ofcomposition of calcium sulfate; said sodium chloride and calcium sulfatecomprising about 20 to 64% by weight of composition; and (i) up to about15% by weight of composition of disinfecting agents, coloring and/orfragrances.
 2. The composition of claim 1 which includes glycerylmonostearate and said ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.
 3. The compositionof claim 1 including ethoxylated nonylphenol.
 4. The composition ofclaim 1 including sodium chloride.
 5. The composition of claim 1including ethoxylated ceto stearyl alcohol.
 6. The composition of claim1 including ortho-phenyl phenol as a disinfecting agent.
 7. Thecomposition of claim 1 including a plasticizer selected from the groupconsisting of polypropylene glycol, dipentene, pine oil fractions,d-limonene and ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers.
 8. A solidcake lavoratory cleansing block composition comprising from about 8% toabout 35% by weight of composition of polyethylene glycol distearatehaving a molecular weight from about 3,000 to about 12,000 and adissolution time of at least about 5.5 hours according to the DistearateDissolution Test, from about 3% to about 35% by weight of guar gum andthe remainder comprising optional ingredients selected from the groupconsisting of fragrances, dyes, solid binders, filler material andmixtures thereof.